Winding machine



Aug. 26, 1952 c. c. BELL ET AL 2,608,355

WINDING MACHINE Filu Feb. 23, 1950 2 'SHEETS-SHEET 1 u e 1e l4 v c r L4 60 I 76 I 50 3 30 m 6 INVENTORS 3 Charles C. Bell 3a b 3 :4 Harold W Hitchcock 7 2 38 John V. Keith 40 P a\\\\\\\\ BY AT TOR N BY K E l 1 Y II In 4 0 m 29% E 6 Bf r N 2 m 0 ie a E K! O Ne w T ,s s V T 2 n A omhw hQO CHJ C- C. BELL ET AL WINDING MACHINE u ie, 1952 Flled Feb 23 1950 Patented Aug. 26, 1952 Charles C. Bell, East Greenwich, Harold W. Hitchcock, Cranston, and John V. Keith, Greenwood, R. I., assignorsto Universal Winding Company, Cranston, R. 1., a corporation-ofMassachusetts Application February 23, 1950, Serial N 0. 145,624

16 Claims. (01. 242-45) This invention relates to improvements in winding machines for packaging yarn, thread,

cord and other strand materials in cops, cones, and the like, and more particularly relates to such a winding machine wherein the tension of the said yarn, thread, cord or other strand material controls the speed at which it is Wound into said cops, cones, and the like.

7 In the present specifications and claims, the term yarn is used in a general sense to indicate any type of attenuated material, and the work package is intended to designate the wound mass of yarn whatever its form or shape. In the usual type of machines for winding yarn with a universal, precision or V-wind, the winding' spindle is driven positively at a constant rate of speed to rotate the package, and the yarn is traversed lengthwise of the-spindle with the rate of draft of the yarn increasing progressively as thepackage increases in diameter. In this typeof windingmachine, the traversing thread guide is reciprocated at a uniform rate, that is, in certain ratio of thespeed of the winding spindle except for a slight increase therein to give an increment of motion to the guide whereby it will lay N the yarn in helical coils with each coil in closely adjacent relation to the previously wound coil With this type of precision winding, the package is ;built up with the turns or coils in all of the layers extending from end to end of the package in a predetermined number of convolutions and crossing each other with a symmetrical V-shaped pattern on the surface of the package. For most purposes the universal or precision wind is considered of advantage as producing a more stable and superior form of package with a maximum amountof yarn contained therein and capable of delivering with greater freedomunder more constant tension. However, the usual types of maj chines employed for winding 2. universal or precision wound package are not suitable for certain pdrposes due to the positive and constant rate of speed of the winding spindle which, as above stated, causes the draft of the yarn being wound toincrease progressively as the package increases indiameter. For example, this increase in speed makes it impossible to use the usual type of precision wider as a tak'eup foryarn being supplied 1 at a constant speed, furthermore, the increase in the draft of the yarn-being wound causes an increase inthe tension'of the yarn. It is, therefore,

" an object of the present invention to provide a machine for producing precision wound packages and maintaining the yarn at a constanttension or under a progressively decreasing tension.

speed. i

Another objectof the presentinvention is to provide a machine capable of winding a precision Wound package at a substantially constant yarn Another objectof the present invention isto provide a winding machine for winding packages of yarn, or the like, and maintaining said yarn under a constant predetermined tension at all times during said winding.

Another objectof the present inventionis to provide a machine-for winding yarn at a constant tension wherein any fluctuation in the tension of yarn being wound functions to restore the yarn tension to the predetermined desired value.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding yarn at a predetermined decreasing tension wherein any fluctuation from said predetermined tension functions to restore the yarn tension to the predetermined desired value.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding yarn wherein an excess of power is provided the windingv spindle of said machine, and the tension of the yarn being wound controls a mechanism for dissipating a portion of said power in excess of that required to maintain said yarn under a predetermined tension.

Another object of the present. invention is to provide a machine for winding yarn wherein the tension of the yarn being wound controls a brakingmember to regulate the effective torque applied to the windingtspindle of said machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine for winding yarn wherein power is supplied the winding spindle of said machine through a slippable connection, and the tension of the yarn being wound controls the percentage of slip that takes place in said slippable connection. g

Another object of the present invention is to provide. a machine for winding yarn wherein power is supplied the winding spindle of said machine through a slip clutch member, and the tension of the yarn being wound controls .the percentage of slip that takes place in said clutch. Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises .the apparatus possessing the construction, combination of elements and arrangement of partswhich are exemplified in the following detail disclosure, and the scope of the application of' which will be indicated in theclaims. 1'4 l driving pulley, brake drum and magnetic clutch;

and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the tension actuated compensatingmeans.

The present invention comprises a machine for winding yarn wherein the tensionof the yarn being wound and the speed at which said-yarn is wound is controlled and maintained within predetermined limits by applying a predetermined substantially constant torque to the winding spindle of the machine through a connection cap'ableof slipping, and applying a braking force, :actuated by the tension of said yarn, to said spindle to, remove'thercfrom that percentage of the constantly applied torque which is in excess of the torque required to wind said yarn at a predetermined tension.

The present drawings illustrate one unit of a ;gang machine comprising aplurality of winding units all substantially identical and embodying the present invention and adapted to be driven abya Single motor. However, it should be under- .stood that eachunit can be individually driven lit-desired, and need not be gang mounted.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, the

present machine comprises a housing member l0 adapted to be mounted on a table or base I2 and provided with suitable bearings for the various rotating elements. --tains a cam member, not shown herein because Housing member conit may be of any usual construction well known to those versed in the art, for reciprocating a yarn. guide [4' carried by traverse frame [6.

Traverse. frame 18 is pivotally mounted on housspindle 20, to lay yarn Y on said package core in a .precision. wind, and to be moved away from said .core 18 as the yarn Y builds up thereon. Trav- 'e'rse frame [6 carriesa counterbalancing weight 22', onv the opposite side of its pivotal connection tohousing member ill, for the purpose of continuously urging yarn guide l4 against packagecore 18 or the periphery of the package being -wound thereon. Spindle 23 is journaled in the upper end of housing member [El and has one end. extending from the front of said housing and 'provided with suitable means for removably securing package core [8 thereon. The other end of spindle projects from the'rear of housing member Ii] and has brake drum 24 rigidly mounted thereon. Brake drum 24 is connected to pulley 26 by means of a magnetic clutch 28 .(see Fig. 3) which is preferably housed inside of pulley 26. Anyconvenient type of magnetic clutch may 'be employed. However, a preferred form is disclosed in Fig. 3 comprising a magnet ring 29 'mounted on web 30 of brake drum 24 by means of clamping ring 3i and bolts 32. A second magnet ring 3 is mounted on the web 34 of pulley 26 by meansof threaded inserts 35 and bolts 36. A

-spa'cing ring 31 may be located between magnet ring 33 and pulley web .34.to properlylocate said bushing 3 9.

4 magnet ring 33 within said pulley. The hub 38 of pulley 25 is threadedly engaged with bushing 39 which in turn is rotatably carried by spindle 20. One end of bushing 39 bears against hub 40 of brake drum 24 to maintain magnet rings 29 and 33 spaced apart a predetermined distance. The spacing between magnet rings'29 and 33 can be varied to adjust the amountof torque transmitted by clutch 28 by screwing pulley 26 along When the proper setting is obtained, pulley 25 can be locked on bushing 39 by means of a suitable set screw, not shown.

A gear casing 42 contains suitable gears, not shown but of a-type well known in the art, which provide a "driving connection between the end of spindle 20, adjacent brake drum 24, and the cam, or other means, inside of housing member in addition carry the idler pulleys 48, and support belt :44 at the end of its run in a manner 'plied'to spindle 23 through pulley 26 by means of an endless belt 54 which passes over the top of pulley 26, and onto the top of an adjacent similar pulley, not shown, to drive another similar unit in the manner well known in the art. An idler orpressure applying pulley 48 is providedad- 'jacent pulley 26 forthe purpose of eliminating rails 53 and 55 and a generally horiz'ontal'arm 54, preferably madeof a flexible spring-like material, is rigidly attached at one of its ends to the front end thereof. The end of arm 54 that is attached to shaft 52 is reinforced over approximately one-quarter of its length by a substantially rigid member 56 alsorigidly attached to the end of shaft 52 and which extends over arm 54.

Member 56' helps arm 54 resist bending in an upward direction but does not interfere with said arm 54 bending downwardly, The other or free end of arm 54 is provided with a yarn engaging wheel 53 mounted thereon by means of a suitable bracket 59. A stud or supporting pin 5| is; suitably mounted on the front of rail 53 and projects beneath arm 54 to support it when the device is, not in-operation, and to providea positive stop; for clockwise, rotation of said. arm

54 when the device is in operation; The end of shaft 52 which projects beyond rail 55 is provided with a lever 60 rigidly attached thereto by any convenient means and which is provided with a plurality of adjustment holes 81 along its length.

A brake operating rod 62 has one of its, ends hooked to engage any one of the holes 6! inrlever 58 andihas its other end connected to one end of abrake band 34. Brake bandv 64 is wrapped around the upper. half-of brake drum 24- and is fixedly connected at its other end to a stud 6t projecting from gear casing-42. A-second yarn engaging wheel68 is suitabl mounted by meansiof a bracket 10 above yarn engaging wheel ,58. e As illustrated in the-drawings, Figs; 1 and :2, bracket 10 is carried by a frame madeup ofa plurality of rods 12. suitably mounted on top of housing member ID, and'which notshown and not pertinent to the. present invention.

S f 5 pfitension controlling, me ha sm 50 is provided between arm 54 and rail 53 with a balancing arm 14 which is generally parallel to arm 54. Balancing arm 14 passes through an opening provided in shaft 52, or may be otherwise suitably attached thereto, and has portions thereof extending on both sides of said shaft 52. The end of balancing arm 14 that is on the same side of shaft 52 as arm 54, is provided with a sliding difierential tension adjusting member 80 adapted to receive balancing weights 82 for a purpose to be described more in detail hereinafter. The other end of arm 14, i. e. that portion diammetrically opposed tov arm. 54, is provided with a counterbalancing weight 18 adapted .to be positioned at, any desired locationon that .end of arm 74 and secured. thereto by means of a setLscrew 18 to compensate toany desired degree for the weight of arm 54, yarn engaging wheel .58, andtension adjusting member 80 and the weights 82., A diiferentialtension actuating lever j84is carried by counterweight22 for movement thereby, Theend oi lever 84 engages between inturnedarms 86 of differential tension adjusting member 80 to slidesaid member 80=and the balancing weights 82.,carried thereby fromright to left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4, asthe package being wound on core [8 increases in diameter.

3 The apparatushof the present invention-runotions in thefollowing manner; A strand of yarn Y is threaded from, any convenient source of supply over yarnengaging wheel 68 downwardly therefrom around yarn engaging wheel 58 and upwardly therefromover yarn guide 14 and onto package core 18., Package core I8 and spindle 2|] are rotated by means of belt 44, rotating pulley 26 and through'magnetic clutch 28, brake drum 24 attached to spindle 20. Yarn guide I4 is reciprocated by means of suitable cammeans,

contained in housing member I 0, which in turn is to such a degree that yarn engaging wheel 58 and arm 54 will-be supported by yarn Y when the tension therein is a predetermined desired value. When the tension in yarn Y exceeds the predetermined desired value, the yarn will lift arm 54 causing itto rotate shaft 52 and lever 60 to cause brake operating rod 62 to .dra w. brake band 84 against the periphery of brake drum 24, to slowdown brake drum 24, spindle and package core l8 by causing slippage to take place in magnetic clutch 28, thus reducing the tension on the yarn .Y to thepredetermineddesired value.

When the tension in yarn Y is less,:than the .pre-

determined desired value, arm 54 drops downwardly, or rotates in a clockwise directionas seen I in Figs. 2 and 4, rotating shaft 52 and lever 68 in .a. direction to cause brake operating rod 82 to release the pressure of brake band 64 on brake drum 24' permitting brake drum 84, spindle 20 and package core I8 to rotate at a higher speed and thus increase the tension in yarn Y. As the package being wound increases in diameter, lever 84 moves difierential tension adjusting member 88 towards the fulcrum of arm 54, thus reducing the effective weight of wheel 58 on 'yarngYwith the result that a lower tension will actuate arm 54and cause brake band 64 to be brake drum 24.

pressed against 1 When yarn Yisbeing supplied ,from any convenie tsoume a a const n spee it w le apparent to those skilled in the art that the winding machine of: the presentinvention will wind the yarn at a constant speed and at a predetermined tension. If it is desired to wind yarn Y at a, constant tension, lever 84 can be removed from counterbalancing weight 22, or otherwise disconnected from differential tension adjusting member 80, so that arm 54 will respondtoa constanttension throughout the winding, oithe package.

Whereas a magnetic clutch and a mechanical type brake have been specifically disclosed and described in connection with thepresent invention, it will be understood that it is not intended to limitthe present invention to the use of these specific elements. For example, a friction type slippable clutch of any convenient design. may be employed, or pulley 26 can be rigidly attached to brake drum 24 and idler pulley 48 so adjusted against belt 44 that said belt 44 can readily slip along the periphery of pulley 25 when brake band 54 is applied to brake drum 24. Also, other types of braking means can be employed in connection with any convenient type of slippable connection; as for example, a magnetic brake.

since Scertain changesmay be made in the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention hereininvolved, itis intended that all matter contained in theabove description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

What is claimed is: I

:1. Ina winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising means for applying a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means adapted to engage said yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and means actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said'spindle.

2. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising means for applying a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means adapted to engage said yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and a brake actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle. 1..

3. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising means for applying a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means adapted to engage said yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and toybe moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and a brake on said spindle actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle. v

,4. In, a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and meanspfor traversinggm,

running strand. of yarn acrossa predetermined length of said spindle, the combination comprising a source of power for said spindle, aslippable connection betweensaid source of power and said spindle adapted to apply a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means .adapted toengage said yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and means actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract from said spindle a percentage of-the torque applied thereto through said slippable connection.

5. In a winding machine having a rotatable winding spindle and means for traversing a running strand of yarn across a predetermined "length of said spindle, the combination comprising-a source of power for said-spindle, a slippable connection between said-source of power and said spindle adapted to apply a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means adapted to engage said yarn prior to its being engaged by said traversing means and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and a brake actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means'and adapted when so actuated to subtract from said spindle a percentage of the torque applied therea predetermined value, and a brake on said spindle actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract from said spindle a percentage of the torque applied thereto through said slippable con- -:nection.

"7. A winding machine comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarn guide adapted to traverse .a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, a clutch vmounted on said spindle and adapted to transmit a predetermined substantially constant torque thereto, means adapted to engage said yarn and. to be moved thereby when the tension :v therein exceeds a predetermined value, and

means actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle.

8. A winding machine comprising in combin- ,,tion a'winding spindle, a yarn guide adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, a clutch mounted on said spindle and adapted to transmit a predetermined substantially constant torque thereto, means adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and a brake actuated by the movement of said last i mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle.

9. A winding machine comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarn guide adapted to:

yarn-guide adapte'dtctraverse a running strand of yarn across apredeterminedlength of said. -sp1ndle,-means for-applying a predetermined sub- Sta1'lt1a11Y constant torque to said spindle, an arm thereby when the tension therein exceeds a pretraverse a running strand: of ,yarneacross, a. predetermined length of said spindle, a clutch mountedon said spindle and adapted to transmit a predetermined substantially constant torque thereto; means adapted to engage-said yarn andto be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, and a brake on said spindle actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle.

' 10. Awinding machine comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarn. guide. adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length 'of said spindle, a magnetic clutch mounted on said spindle andradapted to transmit a predetermined: substantially constant torque thereto, means adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the'tension therein exceeds a predetermined'value, and means actuated by the movement of said lastmentioned means andadapted'when so actuated to cause said magnetic clutch to slip to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle. I 1

11. A winding machine comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarnguide adapted to traverse a running'strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, a magnetic clutch mounted on said spindle and adapted to transmit a predetermined substantially constant torque thereto, means adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby-when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value,-'and.- a brake actuated by the movement of said last mentioned means and adapted' when s'o actuated to cause said magnetic clutch to slip to subtracta percentage of's'aid torque from said spindle.

12r A machine for winding a package of yarn comprising in combination a winding spindle, -a yarn guide adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, means for applying a predetermined substantially constant torque to said spindle, means adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a tension adjusting-member associated with said last mentioned means and adapted to be adjusted relative thereto to decrease said predetermined value as said package increases in diameter, and means actuated by the movement of said yarn engaging means and adapted when so actuated to subtract a percentage of said torque fromsaid spindle. r

V 13. Amachine for winding a package ofyar-n comprising in combination awinding spindle, a

adapted toengage saidyarnand tobe moved determinedvalue, a balancing arm associated with said first mentioned arm, movable means on said balancing arm adapted to carry balancing Weights, means associated with said yarn guide 1 and adapted to move said movable means on said balancing arm-as said package increases in diam- 1 eter whereby said predetermined value decreases progressively as said package increases in diamwe said first mentioned-arm and adapted when so actuated to subtract 2. percentage of said torque eter, and means actuated by the movement of from said spindle.

g n machine-ror winding a packageoryarn prising n combination a winding Spine-1e, a,

9 yarn guide adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, a source of power for said spindle, a slippable connection between said source of power and said spindle, an arm adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a balancing arm associated with said first mentioned arm, movable means on said balancing arm adapted to carry balancing Weights, means associated with said yarn guide and adapted to move said movable means on said balancing arm as said package increases in diameter whereby said predetermined value decreases progressively as said package increases in diameter, and means actuated by the movement of said first mentioned arm and adapted when so actuated to subtract from said spindle a percentage of the torque applied thereto through said slippable connection.

15. A machine for winding a package of yarn comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarn guide adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a predetermined length of said spindle, a clutch mounted on said spindle and adapted to transmit torque thereto, an arm adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a balancing arm associated with said first mentioned arm, movable means on said balancing arm adapted to carry balancing weights, means associated with said yarn guide and adapted to move said movable means on said balancing arm as said package increases in diameter whereby said predetermined value decreases progressively as said package increases in diameter, and means actuated by the movement of i said first mentioned arm and adapted when so decades actuated to subtract from said spindle a percenfiage of said torque.

16. A machine for winding a package of yarn comprising in combination a winding spindle, a yarn guide adapted to traverse a running strand of yarn across a, predetermined length of said spindle, a clutch mounted on said spindle and adapted to transmit torque thereto, an arm adapted to engage said yarn and to be moved thereby when the tension therein exceeds a predetermined value, a balancing arm associated with said first mentioned arm, movable means on said balancing arm adapted to carry balancing weights, means associated with said yarn guide and adapted to move said movable means on said balancing arm as said package increases in diameter whereby said predetermined value decreases progressively as said package increases in diameter, and a brake actuatedby the movement of said first mentioned arm and adapted when so actuated to cause said clutch to slip to subtract a percentage of said torque from said spindle.

CHARLES C. BELL. HAROLD W. HITCHCOCK.

JOHN V. KEITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,012,208 Wildy Aug. 20, 1935 2,271,049 Treckmann et a1. Jan. 2, 1942 2,317,290 McIlvried Apr. 20, 1943 2,509,250 Roberts May 30, 1950 

